The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of a protester in Zaria, Kaduna State. Army spokesperson, Maj-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, August 7, following an incident involving army troops in Samaru, a suburb of Zaria.
According to the statement, on August 6, 2024, troops responded to a distress call about hoodlums gathering in large numbers, burning tires, and throwing stones at security personnel. The troops were mobilized to disperse the mob and enforce the state-imposed curfew. Upon arrival, the hoodlums attempted to attack the troops, prompting a soldier to fire a warning shot, which tragically resulted in the death of 16-year-old Ismail Mohammed.
The soldier involved in the shooting has been arrested and is undergoing interrogation. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has dispatched a high-powered delegation led by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj-Gen Lander Saraso, to visit and condole with the family of the deceased.
The deceased was buried according to Islamic rites, with senior military officers of the Nigerian Army in attendance to pay their respects.
